There is no evidence of ECT being used for treating drug addiction directly. However, in addicted individuals with co-morbid severe depression which does not respond well to medications or psychotherapy, ECT is prescribed as an additional form of treatment.
ECT helps induce changes in the brain’s function that helps reduce symptoms of depression in individuals with severe depression. As drugs are often coping mechanisms for people to deal with negative thinking and feeling associated with depression and anxiety in people with co-morbid conditions, ECT for depression can help indirectly reduce the desire for indulging in drugs.
It depends on the severity of the person’s condition and how well they respond to the ECT treatment.
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